Comments on: Part I: Identifying ADD https://ldsblogs.com/40207/identifying-add Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:08:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Amy Keim https://ldsblogs.com/40207/identifying-add#comment-583575 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:08:01 +0000 https://en.elds.org/ldsblogs-com/?p=40207#comment-583575 In reply to Lisa.

Thank you for sharing your own story! It inspires us to hear about wonderful people like your daughter’s teacher who love children and do all they can to help them. We’re grateful to have readers like you who share their own experiences and strengthen the rest of us. Thank you!

]]> By: Lisa https://ldsblogs.com/40207/identifying-add#comment-583534 Fri, 06 Apr 2018 08:51:10 +0000 https://en.elds.org/ldsblogs-com/?p=40207#comment-583534 Thanks for sharing this. My daughter has ADD also. At first we just thought “she’s a girl, she’s just a little ditzy” she really had the impulsive part. She wasn’t ever afraid of anything. Which of course scared us to death.
We have 2 sons older than her. Also 1 son that’s 2 years younger.
I am so grateful for her 2nd grade teacher. It was so hard at night. She would have a math paper with approximately 12 problems. It would take 2+ hours to finish it. With my sweet husband right by her side the whole time.
She would finally finish and we would have her bring her homework folder to the table. So we could initial that she had done it. Then slide it right in the folder. She was supposed to take the folder out of her backpack at the beginning of the school day. Place it on the teachers desk, with all the other folders. There were many times that she wouldn’t even turn the folder in. Of course that meant her homework wasn’t turned in many times. When we would call her attention to it, asking her why she didn’t turn it in. She would shrug her shoulders, as if it was ok. It didn’t matter that much.
My husband explained to her that doing all that work and not turning it in. Would be the same thing as him going to work all week, then leaving his check at work.
I also tried letting her play for an hour after school before dinner. So she could work on her homework after dinner. But it was still the same story.
My son had the same teacher 2 years before. So I knew her well as I was the room mother. I also came in for an hour every Friday morning to help the children with their reading.
Approximately 6 weeks into the year, when school was over. I was just helping this wonderful teacher cleaning up a little. The only ones still in the room were the teacher and .I. IShe said “I am not supposed to tell you what I am about to tell you. But I feel so strongly that I need too.” I nodded for her to go ahead. She said “I think your daughter has ADD, have you ever asked her doctor about it? Do you see the same things at home that I see here?”
I asked her what she saw specifically so I would know. She then told us that just that day she had been at the chalkboard explaining a different way to solve a math problem. While she was doing that my daughter got up from her desk and walked over to the backpacks, she was just like looking at them. But clearly wasn’t thinking, listening, or trying to learn what the teacher was teaching them.
I knew exactly what she meant. I told her it was the same at home. She suggested that I call her doctor and let him know what was happening, and see what he said. I gave her a big hug and thanked her for telling me.
I called him when I arrived home and explained everything. He told me to do the 3 things test right while he was on the phone and see what she did.
So I asked her to pick up a book, take it to her room, then put it on the bed.
I walked behind her far enough that she wouldn’t wonder why I was following her. But close enough to see what she would do. She made it to her bedroom. Then she sat on the floor with the book in her hands.
She started to cry. I asked her what was wrong and she replied very quietly “I don’t know what I am supposed to do next.”
We met with doctor the very next morning. He did more tests with her to see how she did. After consulting with the doctor and learning more about it. He knew right away she had it. She loved that doctor. She had epilepsy, but had out grown it a year before. Because of that she had spent a lot of time there. Many blood draws, adjusting medications etc. he realized right away that she did have ADD.
She has been on the same medication since 5th grade. She turned 23 this week. It is such a blessing to see her act/focus/understand the same as everyone else. The sweetest thing happened when she took this medication the first time. About an hour after taking it, she said “Mom is this how everyone else feels all the time? I am so happy to be like everyone.”
We saw the change immediately and she has been so much happier and her self confidence grew so much.
You can tell when it has worn off at night, but it doesn’t wear off until about 9-10 at night.
She was able to go on an LDS Mission and did great there.
Sorry for this long message but as I read this, I was taken back to the beginning for us. I will always be so grateful that her teacher wasn’t afraid to tell me what she thought.
Thanks again. I look forward to reading the next part of your journey.

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